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A South education allows students to explore and develop interests that build the foundation of lifelong career paths. Our faculty are dedicated to helping students reach their maximum potential. And with more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, South provides plenty of avenues for discovery.
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South’s student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports, demonstrating excellence on the field and in the classroom. The Jaguars are a charter member of the Sun Belt Conference, and our alumni have gone on to notable professional careers in baseball, basketball, golf and football.
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Helping Students Reach Their Math Potential

Min Zhu, a University of South Alabama student pursuing her master’s degree in math
education, helps 8th-grader Ian Robertson of Mobile problem solve during a weekly
Math Circle session at South.

It’s about 7 p.m., and 30 middle and high school students from Mobile and surrounding
communities are arriving on a Monday at the University of South Alabama’s Instructional
Laboratory Building to attend the free Math Circle. There are refreshments and eager students ready to learn despite a full day of attending
school.

The weekly Math Circle, an outreach effort designed to offer enrichment outside the typical secondary education
curriculum, is held through each fall and spring semester at South Alabama. It’s coordinated
and managed by Drs. Vasiliy Prokhorov, Cornelius Pillen and Scott Carter, professors
in the department of mathematics and statistics in the College of Arts and Sciences. They also work with several graduate student assistants like Min Zhu, a native of
Nanjing, China, who’s pursuing her master’s degree in math education, and Anthony
Thames, who received his master’s degree in secondary math education in the College of Education at the 2015 spring commencement. Thames is currently serving as an adjunct professor
in the department of mathematics and statistics at South.

During the Math Circle session, the students are broken up into groups of two to solve
specific math problems with the guidance of the faculty and graduate students. Students
also receive one-on-one assistance when needed.

Zhu, a College of Education Noyce Teachers Scholarship Program recipient, is excited
to work with the students who attend Math Circle.

“Our students are very gifted,” Zhu said. “We are just tour guides for their big adventure
in the ’math magic kingdom.’ They surprise me every week with their own way of problem
solving. As an aspiring math teacher, I have discovered that the Math Circle has no
limits.”

Thames said it’s been rewarding to help middle and high school students press forward
and reach their math potential.

“Many students who excel in STEM fields, which are science, technology, engineering
and math, may not be in an environment that can help cultivate that talent,” Thames
noted. “However, with the Math Circle, those students have an opportunity to be challenged
and have fun while learning math concepts. We must help those with the talent and
drive for math to achieve the goals they set for themselves.”

Math Circles are a tradition that started in Hungary more than a century ago and continues
to grow stronger worldwide each year. Prokhorov helped develop the Math Circle session
at South in 2000. It started as a pilot program held at the Alabama School of Mathematics
and Science in Mobile and then was transferred to the South Alabama campus.

“We wanted to create a fun and educational environment for students who love math
and wanted to learn more,” said Prokhorov. “We received our first $5,000 grant from
the Alabama Science Grant Consortium in 2000. And the Math Circle continues to be
sponsored by the department of mathematics and statistics at South Alabama.”

Since the Math Circle was started at South, it has grown in size and diversity, including
more female, African American, Asian and Hispanic students.

“We are pleased to see a more diverse group of students,” Pillen said. “It’s important
our program benefit all students. We encourage an atmosphere of discovery, fun and
excitement about mathematics.”

The Math Circle provides tutoring and enrichment activities, focusing on helping students
improve their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while also introducing
them to more advanced math concepts.

“The Math Circle not only helps the middle and high school students, but it also helps
our South students, by giving them a real-world experience in the classroom while
they are pursuing their degree,” Carter said. “We want our students at South to help
middle and high school students think both logically and creatively.”

Zhu, who volunteers with local non-profit organizations, understands her role of giving
back. She hopes to carry over what she’s learning as a graduate student into her classroom
one day.

“I want to see my future students enjoy math, and I plan on making it fun and express
to them the importance of joining a Math Circle,” she said. “My goal is to be a ‘star
teacher’ for my students.”

Thames, who also serves and supports his community as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
Inc., wants to not only help students as a future math teacher, he wants to share
what he’s learned with kids who may not know they could be good math students.

“What I have learned the most is that we as math scholars have a responsibility to
help students that show talent in math,” Thames said. “We want them to mature as math
students. My experiences at South have already afforded me the opportunity to help
young students achieve their goals. And now, I am better prepared for my future career
as a math educator.”

And what does Mobile’s Ian Robertson, an 8th-grade homeschooled student, think about
South Alabama’s Math Circle?

“The Math Circle at South has been very interesting,” he said. “I have learned a lot
about logic and how to relate math to the real world.”

New students are welcome to join the South Alabama Math Circle. For more information
or to register for the sessions, call (251) 460-7293 or e-mail Dr. Cornelius Pillen
at pillen@southalabama.edu.